Sony Classical has added a new guitarist to its artist roster, Pablo Sáinz-Villegas. In signing to Sony, the Spanish-born, New York-based guitarist joins the stable which released the bulk of recordings by two of recording’s most acclaimed virtuoso artists on the instrument: John Williams, and – on the Sony-owned RCA label - Julian Bream. 

Sáinz-Villegas’s first album for Sony, due for release later this year, will be a song album alongside tenor Plácido Domingo, with whom he’s regularly collaborated – including on a floating stage on the Amazon River, live-streamed worldwide. Other recent events included premiering Rounds, the first composition for guitar by the composer John Williams.

 ‘Sharing my music with people, whether a small or large audience, continues to infuse my drive,’ said Sáinz-Villegas in a statement. ‘I’m thrilled to be joining Sony Classical, the label which became home of some of the greatest classical guitarists the world has ever seen. With this exciting new partnership, it is my wish to bring the magical sound of the guitar to more people than ever before and to continue inspiring people around the world’.

His appearances in Gramophone to date have included, in 2013, performing arrangements of dances by Piazzolla, Falla and other composers associated with tango with Augustin Hadelich, released on Avie. He has also recorded Villa-Lobos’s Guitar Concerto with James Judd and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and appeared on Naxos’s Laureate Series, devoted to young guitarists.

Video: Pablo Sáinz-Villegas and Plácido Domingo performing together in 2016